Shoulder Arthritis
Arthritis is a common condition where joints become inflamed. There are several types of arthritis that affect the shoulder. The most common type is osteoarthritis, but there are others including rheumatoid and post-traumatic arthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, and avascular necrosis. All of these types of arthritis cause pain, but stiffness and limited range of motion are also very common.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the shoulder and typically happens over time. This condition causes shoulder pain along with swelling and stiffness. Its cause is not fully understood, but repetitive use over time certainly plays a role. Over time, cartilage breaks down, allowing bone to rub against bone, which causes increasing amounts of pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
RA is an autoimmune disease, meaning the immune system attacks its own tissues. In the case of shoulder arthritis, the immune system breaks down cartilage and ligaments in the shoulder over time.
Post-Traumatic Arthritis
Post-traumatic arthritis is a specific type of osteoarthritis that occurs after a physical injury or trauma, including fractures, dislocations, and previous surgical procedures.
Rotator Cuff Tear Arthropathy
If a rotator cuff tendon is torn and left untreated for a long time, the humerus (upper arm) bone will rub against the acromion (shoulder blade), causing arthritis to develop.
Avascular Necrosis
Avascular necrosis is a condition where the blood supply to the head of the humerus gets cut off. The bone cells begin to die, and eventually, the bone itself collapses. The bone collapse leads to damage of the articular cartilage covering the bone and develops into arthritis. Heavy alcohol consumption, sickle cell disease, and traumatic injury can cause this type of arthritis.
Treatment
Nonsurgical Treatment
Nonsurgical treatment options include resting the shoulder, changing your activities, anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, injection of steroids such as cortisone, and icing the shoulder.
Surgical Treatment
To regain some shoulder strength and mobility, surgery may be an option. The goal of an arthritic surgery is usually to clean out the inside of the joint. This procedure will help relieve pain, but will not cure the arthritis. Over time, the pain may reappear, requiring additional surgeries. There are several new and improved surgical techniques for repairing arthritic damage, many of which are minimally invasive. These surgeries can usually be performed as outpatient procedures in a surgery center. There are many advantages to surgery centers including better outcomes, lower infection rates, no overnight stay, lower costs, and the convenience that comes with a highly skilled staff.
Minimally Invasive or Arthroscopic
These conditions can be treated surgically with a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera (arthroscope) inserted through a 1 cm incision. The surgeon then uses the images from the camera to maneuver miniature surgical instruments. This procedure is almost always performed as an outpatient surgery and is the least invasive way to repair this condition. The small incision is less traumatic to the muscle, reducing bleeding and scarring and leading to a quicker recovery time.
Physical Therapy
After surgery, you will need a sling or other device for a period of time to allow the shoulder to rest and stabilize. Once the shoulder is ready, physical therapy exercises will help you regain strength, range of motion, and mobility. Strengthening the shoulder should help prevent some future issues.
The goal of any procedure is to get you back to full strength and doing the activities you want to do. Here at YourOrthoSolution, we have some of the top orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine physicians in the country. We are dedicated to getting you back to the things you love through a treatment plan that fits only you. Our highly trained surgical and physical therapy specialists will take into account several factors, such as your anatomy and activity level, to create a customized treatment plan.
At YourOrthoSolution, all of our doctors and staff are dedicated to ensuring that you not only receive the best orthopedic care in the area but also have an exceptional experience each time you visit our locations. Our dedicated staff will handle all insurance processes for you. You can expect to be in a friendly atmosphere and receive top orthopedic treatment to help you return to full mobility as quickly as possible. Our caring team always goes that extra step to make you feel a part of our family. We want to help you start the healing process as quickly as possible to get you on the path to recovery.
